I have played with OCTARIUM at the last High Holy days and they are a wonderful Vocal group with a great conductor.
As a trained musican and a member of B'nai Juhdah's former choir, I always enjoy, not only listtening to the Octarium choir, but also singing along with them at our High Holiday services. Our services are greatly enhanced by Octarium's participation during these services.
This cantorial group adds a sense of beauty to the dignity of the High Holiday Services and should be commended for thier efforts.
Octarium sings for us at Congregation B'nai Jehudah for our High Holiday services. Their enhancement of the spiritual experince is ethereal, moving and brings deeper meaning to the occasions for me. From the first time they graced our gatherings, I felt I stepped into a fresh, open, sacred place. I marvelled at their ability to so faithfully render Hebrew even though they had not previously studied it (I assume). Thank you Octarium. You make our High Holidays more wonderful and meaningful.
My pesonal high holiday experience is always enhanced by virtue of the music and its specific arrangement. This particular time in the year is devoted to reflection and I find no better way to reflect than accomopanied by music.
This group has been playing the role of spiritual musical accompamists at out sysagogues High Holiday Services for 5 or 6 years now. Theyappear as professional musicians both in performance and demeanor. the sounds are angelic, harmonic, and appropriately match the tone of the litergy in each segment of the music. THe music sets the tone of the prayers and they capture it all quite well.
Octarium voices combine to sound like an orchesstral group. You can hear the joy in their performances. They make their performances sound like special occasions.
As a teenager who usually listens to popular music, I really enjoy listening to Octarium at our holiday services. The two days of services are very long, but I get wrapped up in the music and time just flies.
I have heard this group sing many times. They approach the music with genuine seriousness. Their sound belies their small size. Tremendous talent, dedication, and beauty.
Octarium has been an integral part of our High Holiday services at Congregation B'nai Jehudah in Overland Park, KS. They have helped to transport me to another plane on those very special and holy days. They help transmit the gravity of the day.
Octarium have sung at our High Holiday Service along with our cantor for as long as I can remember and their beautiful voices truly enhance our services.
I have performed as a musician with Octarium and also heard them at one of their concerts. I am amazed and transfixed by the power and beauty of their singing. With only a few rehearsals, they perform flawlessly for the High Holy Days at my temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah. I also had the privilege of conversing with them, and they are all kind and gracious.
It's not every day that my family and I choose to sit towards the front at services. When Octarium is there - we try to sit as close as possible. Their voices are beautiful and their showmanship connects us to both the music and the spiritual nature of why we're there.
Even with "substitute" singers Octarium is better than your average choral ensemble. Only Krista Blackwood would think that minor misses could mar the performance of Kansas City's best eight member (or almost any number of members) a capella group. The rest of us didn't notice - too enthralled by the music.
They sang everyone's favorites, and the crowd was duly pleased. Actually, since everyone got to pick their favorites for the program (Listeners' Choice), this was more or less inevitable. Nontheless, I'm sure there were many who came away with new favorites as Octarium did their usual superb job of lending intimacy, good humor and class to a wide variety of music from many genres.
The venue, St Elizabeth's in KCMO, is also one of my local favorites for vocal performances providing just the right mix of depth and resonance to everything from a three-voice chant to a triumphant chorus.
You should go and listen.
Our congregation has had the great fortune to have Octarium as our holiday choir singing alongside our cantor for as many years as I can remember. Octarium's voices elevate the beauty of our holy days and help create moments of both solemness and joy. I am sure that their work in other settings is equally as beautiful as their participation in our holiday services. My hope is that they will continue to be able to share their music with our congregation, the Kansas City community and beyond for years to come.
When the Octaruim sing on the High Holy days, it sounds so angelic almost as if the angels themselves are singing with them.
I have had the extrodinary pleasure for eight years of being in the pews as Octarian has added their voices to enrich a worship experience. I have had the opportunity to travel fairly extensively and to see and experience others in the role that Octarian has been filling. I can without hesitation tell everyone that what Octarian provides is without exception an extrodinary experience. We would be far poorer without Octarian's participation.
Each year, Octarium provides a rich and beautiful backdrop for our most important holidays of the year. Our synagogue is fortunate to have this very professional group located in our city. They create a full-bodied sound that helps set the tone for our entire service. Additionally, they are always a pleasure to watch. Their director exhibits true poise and grace in her leadership of this group. This is a very unique group!
Our High Holy Days would be beautiful with only the voice of our Cantor but having Octarium provides a much more spiritual experience. Their voices entertwined with the Cantor's gives our holiest days of awe a splendid aura not achievable without their skills. Singing our songs demands the group learn Hebrew...a skill they did with integrity.
This musical group has added an extraordinary amount of beauty and soul to our High Holy Days services at The Temple, Congregation B'Nai Jehudah each year that they have provided music. I'm a professional Bassoonist, teacher and adjudicator in the Kansas City area and I've performed with many ensembles in all the years I've been here. None of the choral ensembles I have ever worked with or heard has the beauty and blend of this wonderful group of people. They are so tasteful and musical, and it's also hard to believe that the Hebrew language that they sing for our Services is not native to any of them! If we could have them for all Holidays and Shabbat celebrations, it would be a dream come true!
They also work hand-in-glove with our marvelous Cantor Sharon Kohn, each party making the other's voice seem so effortless.
Please consider this wonderful group for the opportunity to receive grant support, as it would truely be a shame not to support their marvelous efforts at music-making.
I have heard Octarium sing for several years during our High Holiday services at our synagogue. Their professional voices add beauty to our service. They are well disciplined, always watching their director, and coming in together as well as releasing together when that is called for. They make a beautiful, moving contribution to our services, and I am always glad to see them.
Octarium has been a part of our synagogue for many years. Their amazing voices are heard during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The beauty of thier voices enhances our prayers and sets the tone of our holy days.
they are very enjoyable to listen too their dedication to their work is very endearing they are refreshing encouraging and very moving :)
This group is so beautiful. They obviously are very good at what they do and work very hard to sound so awesome. They sound so flawless in their harmonies and the way their voices blend is very hypnotic and yet it is also soothing. These folks deserve our support! They are so very talented!
Octarium has performed some of my choral works in past seasons. Without exception, their treatment of the choral art was flawless. They are wonderful musicians and even better people. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with them, and I look forward to future collaborations.
While I've not been able to see Octarium perform live, I am fortunate to have obtained several of their cds. The sounds and harmonies of Octarium are beautiful, many voices combining to make one lovely voice. I look forward to the day when I will have the opportunity to attend a performance!
I have had the pleasure of seeing Octarium perform many times over the years they have been a choral group. They have amazing blend and sound. You can tell that each musician is talented in their own right, but that together they are stronger and even more beautiful together as a group. You can also see a wide range of genre with them. When I hear choral, I think sophisticated and classical. But, they push the boundaries of that definition and have fun. One can tell that the group members are friends and have a great sense of humor. I only hope to hear much more from them in the future! They deserve great things.
I have conducted choirs, sung in choirs and enjoyed listening to beautiful choral music for most of my professional life, and I have never heard a choir like Octarium. The have a blend a balance of an ensemble 4 times their size, and a purity that a larger choir would be incapable of matching. Simply put, Octarium is a musical gem; a rare and priceless one at that.
Personally, my favorite performances of theirs include the Manuel ALLELUIA and Lauridsen's O MAGNUM MYSTERIUM. Octarium brings out the beauty of these wonderful pieces in a powerful and moving way.
I look forward to following Octarium through the years, and benefitting from their beautiful music.
This group is an amazing vocal ensemble. They work to expand and enhance music education and the public's understanding of music. I have thoroughly enjoyed their concerts in person when travel permits as well as via CD.
Wonderful beyond words. It is always such a pleasure to listen to Octarium whether via CD or live concert. I was fortunate to be able to travel a long distance to attend the Listener's Choice Concert. I seem to enjoy their work more and more every time I hear them sing. The programing for this last concert was amazing considering that the pieces were chosen by the fans. Dr. Blackford did a supurb job of coordinating the selections and the singers were beyond outstanding.
Octarium always delivers! Their sound is consistent and brilliant. Creative programming enhances every concert. Don't miss!
I attend as many concerts as possible and thoroughly enjoy them always. I enjoy watching them in concert as they interact with each other to produce their amazing sound. It almost makes me feel a part of the process.
The Listener's Choice concert on February 19th was a pleasure to attend. The program concept was nice in it's own right and (understandably) was more-or-less a compilation of "greatest hits". I was taken by the antiphonal di Lasso work handled by two groups of four done very ably by the group. All the pieces were enhanced by the wonderful acoustic at St. Elizabeth's where several other performances have taken place. The singers and overall musical and artistic direction of Dr. Krista Lang-Blackwood make Octarium performances and recordings well worth attending and buying!
Octarium is one of Kansas City's most valued and valuable arts organizations. Unique, intelligent, musically brilliant.
Octarium is always entertaining. The singers are so talented, the music is a pleasure and the programs always have a variety of pieces to make the evening a great experience. I have never been disappointed.
I have been following Octarium for several years. Attending concerts, and listening to their CD's. Every time I attend a performance I feel refreshed and enriched by the beauty of the music and the skill with which they present it. Can't get enough Octarium!
I live outside the KC area, so I have not had the opportunity to hear them live, but I do own the first three recordings and love the harmonious beautiful blend of voices. It's not exactly like listening to singing to me, but more like floating music. I started listening to Octarium while expecting my first child a few years ago while looking for something relaxing, yet meaningful. I found that with Octarium. Time to get the fourth recording!
I acepted an invitation to attend this musical event mainly because i wanted to share a fun evening with friends -- but I was blown away with the music. I am not a music major and only know what I like and enjoy, and Octarium was such a pleasant surprise. The music was lively, soul-searching, spiritual, fun -- and my emotiona ran the same gamut.
I look forward to spending another evening with Octarium -- and my friends!!!
Octarium is a group of very talented individuals. I personally know Brady! I have seen him put on the spot to lead a group thru a song to finish the oncore ALL by himself without any back ground music. My husband is a drummer for Mid Life Crisis of KC band which is my only musical background but Octarium is a completely different type of entertainment. Style, organization, dedication and outstanding performance is what you witness when listening to Octarium. The vocals are so projected that it gives you goose bumps just to hear this group perform! This group has enducated me on what acapella is!
I am a music educator and I am extremely impressed by the quality of choral music produced by Octarium. The blend and balance are exquisite and the group has a true sense of what they are singing about. I would recommend a recording or a concert of this lovely group to anyone...they are phenomenal!
I don't believe I've ever been to a concert that moved me more than those of the a capella group, Octarium. They are so beautiful............the music perfect........and the singers so captivating. An amazing experience that has reduced me to tears several times. Lovely. I've sung their praises to all my friends.
My favorite Octarium concert was at Drury Stone Chapel in 2010. The program was a selection of songs that were of a popular nature and singers voices became the instruments. The incredible sounds, complete with textures and tones that mimicked elements of strings, woodwind and brass were such a delight. As you looked at the crowd, they were fully engaged--smiling, tapping or singing along. It was a magical evening and as people were leaving I heard them ask when they would be back.
The most notable thing of the group if the obvious pleasure they derive from the performance itself and the natural poise and balance they achieve with their voices. Each voice has a strenth in itself as shown in some of the selections that had solo vocals within the text, but they seemed to blend together into a smooth and elegant sound.
Within the Kansas City area are many musical organizations. Only one, however, offers small-group acapella signing, octarium. Anchored by the bass-baritone Brian Winters and moving through the voices to the soaring soprano of Ashley Winters, this, group consistently provides the highest quality of vocal music. As a small group, it does not require vast financial resources; on the other hand, it shoud not be ignored merely because of its size. Having attended many of Octarium's concerts over its eight year existence, I feel that my financial contributions help keep this wonderful music alive. Their skill and enthusiasm brings so much to the audience that it would be a pity if they could not get the financial backing thay they need.
I had just moved to a new town, started a challenging new career of fundraising consulting for the performing arts during unhopeful economic times, and was trying to support a spouse in her first ministerial appointment. A friend gave me an Octarium CD, "Essentials" and Rachmaninov's Bogorditse literally slapped me in the face. The gentle firmness of pianissimo and both the depth and marriage of tone forced me to pull over my car because the sound was literally pulling the tearful depression from my eyes and the moaning stress from my throat. I believe art connects us to each other and to our Creator. Art as a vessel has saved me time and time again. Octarium was a vessel that day, and I'm continually impressed and blessed by their artful and innovative approach and dedication to producing one sound together.
Octarium's unique blend of vocals provides a magical sensory experience that is spiritual in nature.
Octarium is a wonderful musical group. They are very talented and inspiring. Our community is very thankful for their performances.
As a music educator I am always trying to find new and innovative ways to promote classical music in the public schools. The Octarium website was recommended to me and I am very impressed with this organization!! I recently viewed the video clip Sing a Symphony and will be forwarding the link to educators in my district. Kudos to Dr. Krista Lang Blackwood and Octarium for their dedication to music education in the schools!!
I have been to several Octarium performances over the years. This group of performers transports the audience into the realm of sheer, unadulterated pleasure. Their voices, whether in chorus or solo, are absolutely beautiful. After their performance the group always mingles with the audience. This interaction is fun to watch as they encourage and inspire many young people to become involved with music.
Octarium is fantastic. What a fine arts organization! They deserve millions and millions and millions
Amazing concert. Beautiful blending of voices and great acoustic at the venue. Thanks for inspiring us. You brought tears to my eyes in a couple of pieces.
I work with one of the performers in Octarium. Jaime Scherrer is one of the most talented and versatile musicians I know, and I do go to many musical programs in the metro area. I have the pleasure of working with Jaime-she is our choir teacher and is deeply involved in school musicals. I am happy to write a review because I know that Jaime is invested in Octarium and I know from other staff members that their music is amazing. I do plan to patronize their performances in the future. I have had the opportunity to listen to taped versions of the performances and find what they do amazing. I would do anything I could to help Octarium reach their full potential!
I have seen many of Octarium's concerts and appreciate the variety they offer in their programs. There is something for every member of the audience - traditional, seasonal, choral adaptation to classics and pop. The members are all very talented musicians who take their craft to heart, and deliver their performances with professionalism and enthusiasm. Their voices blend and compliment one another, and their concerts delight their audiences. The Octarium members spend countless hours rehearsing together recording, performing, arranging, touring promoting their CDs, and mentoring students.
It is such a pleasure to listen to Octarium, and their passion for thier music. I have attended numerous concerts over the last 4 years and have always come away with that feeling of being inspired. I hope fundng will continue to support Octarium and other groups.
Have you ever heard angels sing? I have, and they are called Octarium. I am pleased that a group of this caliber exist in my lifetime. I have had the pleasure to be blessed by there voices on a few occasions and that is a few occasions to few. Between singing perfectly blended arias and standards, to mixing in some popular songs from past eras, I am taken on a roller coaster ride through heaven. Christmastime is when this group shines the brightest. They are the epitome of the lords own hand-picked singers to bring joy to all. I suggest that if you haven't seen them, then you stop what your doing and get a schedule of upcoming shows and then buy tickets for everyone you know. Maybe even people you don't, because no one should live without hearing them perform.
I heard Octarium sing at a local concert for the holidays and was blown away by the quality of their music. A friend of mine is in the group, and so to be honest, I first went to be nice. I left feeling totally different. The music moved me and their grace and humor was apparent. The group is quite talented and I would recommend their concerts to anyone!
I have been to 7 or 8 Octarium concerts. I am not a music critic but I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of them. Their harmony and blend of voices are excellent, but mostly I like their selection of songs. To me their concerts are more enjoyable than any other choral group, including KC Chorale, Chanticleer, King Singers or The Sixteen
I was at the Octarium "Listener's Choice" concert last night and was absolutely enthralled with the clarity, energy, and pure beauty of the performance created by the eight singers. I was swept into another dimension for the 2 hours of the concert. This was the first time that I have heard this group live, but it certainly will not be the last.
Serendipity
Just by chance I was looking through local events in KC and came across your concert. I drove over two hours to hear the concert and it was time well spent. The vocals of the group lived up to their name. The selection of music was superb and the overall atmosphere was warm and inviting. I look forward to many more concerts by this group of professionals.
The Listener's Choice Concert this evening, Feb. 19, was delicious! How they make eight notes sound like 18 is beyond me! Sing me to Heaven and Shenandoah were so lush, not to mention Over the Rainbow. Heart-melters! Don't miss your next opportunity to see/hear them. I won't!
Each time I hear Octarium, I am truly amazed how eight people can work together to achieve such an incredible singular sound that is pure and innocent, complex yet clear, delightful, moving and they touch my heart. Thank you!
Was able to attend my first concert by Octarium this evening. What an experience! I had read a few reviews of this group but they are outstanding in person. Each member of the group 'sells' their interpretation of the work and makes it look effortless.
Amazing.
I attended your concert this evening. This is my second concert and each time I have brought a friend with me. What a way to deepen a friendship.
I am so moved by your music, dedication and artistry. Those beutiful blendings of tone and harmonies are exceptional. I have sung in choirs all my life and I am so moved by your voices and expertise. Thank you, Thank you. Please continue to bless Kansas City with your music. I give you 6 stars out of a possible 5.
I heard the Listener's Choice concert tonight Feb. 19; it was incredible as always. I never tire form hearing the perfect synchronicity of sound and silence from these 8 incredible voices. The Willow Song, A Boy and a Girl, and Sing Me to Heaven were breathtaking; I am in heaven still after the experience. A Fantastic concert! - Mark Meyerdirk
Octarium represents the finest in choral music that is to be found in our community, and we try never to miss a concert. Congratulations to Krista and her wonderful singers!
Octarium transports one into the heavenly realm. Everytime I listen I close my eyes and feel refreshed.
Rilla Carson, Fort Collins, CO.
The group OCTARIUM is beyond awesome. They have talent, and while giving a concert, they educate you. There is nothing more beautiful than human voices harmonizing, and OCTARIUM has eight voices that blend supremely.
Having had the opportunity to enjoy Octarium from its very first performance, it has been a joy to follow them through the years. Every concert is wonderful, every CD is beautiful, and every singer is both individually and collectively an outstanding musician. Their ability to connect with one another and the audience at the same time is unique and inspiring. This is the type of music and art that individuals who enjoy hearing them sing should be inspired to support them over and beyond the price of a CD or concert ticket.
I have been a fan of Octarium since they were first organized. They have a clean, choral sound that is very hard to find outside of a university setting, and universities get these kinds of singers together only so often. I have enjoyed each of their CDs and have heard many of their concerts. They are brave in their programing and fearless in their performances. I think that the world is better because they exist. I hope they will continue to grow and find new audiences to bring to the art of choral music.
Octarium understands how to present acapella music that is both relevant and wonderfuly performed. While their live performances are marvelous experiences, their recordings allow the listener to be musically transported time and again. I hope that this group will continue to expand their repertoire and influence throughout the country.
Whether recorded or live, Octarium's singing in sublime. Singing in the acapella form, they are a reminder that the voice truly is an instrument. Kansas City has the great good fortune to have them in their midst. I hope they can continue to expand their reach so that more and more children and adults can be exposed to their artistry.
Great singing combined with great programming is hard to find. Couple that with genuine people, bringing their enthusiasm deirectly to the listener and you have Octarium. This organization helps make this part of the Midwest a vibrant place to live. It deserves our support.
I was spellbound by Brady Shepard's voice and range. Highly recommend for everyone...amazing is all I can say.
I have been to two previous concets and am in awe of the voices. I espically enjoy Brady Shepherd's solo's. I am looking forward to the Feb. 19th concert.
Octarium performed for the Crescendo Concert Series in St. Charles, MO in a previous season. I had heard them twice before, once travelling to KC to attend a concert on their home ground. They are a thoroughly professional and enjoyable ensemble with a great deal of audience appeal. Much attention to choral detail, some excellent solo voices. My admiration to their founder/director.
Review from Guidestar
How do you write a review on perfection. The pure sounds of Octarium are a delight. Dr. Blackwood evidently knows how to bring out the best in these talented performers and she shares this insight in Octarium's educational work. The concert at the World War I Museum was outstanding and Octarium's rendition of "America the Beautiful" was most moving. Thank you for all your hard work!
I am a long time resident of Kansas City with season tickets to several musical performance series (symphony, opera, etc.). I have heard Octarium in person and am always in awe of the sound that they create. I consider them to be one of the musical jewels of Kansas City. My most recent performance experience with them was their American Idyll concert in October 2010. This was held in the Auditorium of the WWI museum. The combination of the setting and the music really brought the meaning of the selections home to the audience. I brought along a friend who does not get to concerts very often. She is now a fan, too. She immediately checked her schedule to find the next concert when she, too, could introduce someone to this special group!
This group gives new meaning to the much sought after "one voice" sound that many choral groups find elusive. Congratulations to Dr. Blackwood and her singers. I would hope that Octarium will be able to extend their wonderful musical influence beyond the midwest and possibly to the international level. A well deserving choral ensemble.
Fabulous! A singular and highly erudite group of singers. Cheers to Krista Blackwood and all of her efforts.
My wife and I have attended many of Octarium's performances. We have done so for years. Our age and distance from KC has not detered us. Each performance has been a treasure. We have both felt transformed by what we hear. The eight singers of Octarium blend beautifuly. Their harmomies resonate throughout the glorious spaces of their venues that then echo in our memories. It is clear that their dirctor, Krista Blackwood, has with grace and skill helped them realize the composer's intent and has thus brought to life a vision of the eternal.
Octarium consistently brings me joy, whether it is listening in person at a concert or listening at home to a CD. Going to an Octarium Christmas concert is one of my rituals, a centering, peaceful and inspiring occasion. They did one of this year's concerts in a beautiful old church in the urban core that could not afford to keep the heat on. We wore our coats and listened to these angels sing, then took up a donation for the church....all generated by Octarium. I am a career non-profit volunteer and I consider Octarium to be the perfect combination of performing a service beneficial to its clients and helping the community at the same time.
As a professional accompanist who has worked with nationally known directors, I consider Octarium to be a choral ensemble that is not only inspiring in their performances but top quality in precision, intonation, repertoire selection, and communication with the audience. It is always a joy to attend their concerts. They are my preferred choral group in Kansas City.
I've never missed an Octarium Concert in the KC area, and I never go to a performance alone. I have invited numerous friends and relatives to join me who never fail to become fans!
I keep a link to the Octarium website on my Facebook page to share with more friends and family across the country, and as far away as Sweden!
They have been delighted with the cd's , and I am thrilled to be a supporter of Octarium and their fine tuned vocal instruments!!
When the radio is blaring away with odds and ends, and I'm searching for something to soothe my soul, I just pop in an Octarium CD and enjoy!
What a treasure Octarium is. A group of professionals who take time to share their rare talents with an adoring public. Each performance is awaited eagerly by us and I hope they will be able to perform more often.
Listening to Octarium is like a bit of heaven. I enjoy listening to their CD’s as well as attending their live concerts. Thank you Dr. Krista Lang Blackwood, Artistic Director, Ashley Winters, Amy Waldron, Renee Stanley, Leah Jenkins, Jaime Scherrer, Andrea Coleman, Jason Parr, Jay Van Blaricum, Brady Shepherd, Benjamin Winters for sharing your talents. Thank you to everyone involved for the work you do to bring us this gift.
I had the privilege to work with Octarium on a short recording project. It was a thrill to work with them from the composer's perspective and I heartily agree with Morton Lauridsen's and other composer's praise for Octarium. They took great pains to respectfully interpret and perform my work and had a fabulous dynamic. I am proud to have a Octarium recording of my choral music.
I first heard of Octarium through a friend. I looked them up on YouTube and was instantly enchanted by their sound. I then ordered the two cds they had available at the time and have listened to them frequently on my iPod ever since. Octarium’s motto; goal; raison d’etre (if you will) of eight voices as one, as evidenced in their name and sound, is one that all vocal ensembles should strive for but few do. When the opportunity arose for me to hear them live, I was thrilled. They perform frequent outreach programs with college and university choral groups and end their day with a concert. I drove three hours to hear them and was not disappointed. As great as they are in recording, they are even better live. It is evident to me that they are dedicated to education and are uncompromisingly strong advocates of the arts in America. I cannot recommend a small vocal ensemble more highly than Octarium.
I currently live in Texas. Every year, on the long-awaited first cool day of fall, I giddily slip my Octarium Hodie CD into the computer, close my eyes, and apparate back to Kansas City. This group has a specifically Midwestern sound, warm and enveloping. I instantly feel like I'm by a fire with a hot cup of coffee.
Octarium recently performed at a community benefit/fundraising performance for us in Kansas City's urban core and they set a very high standard for the future of choral music on Troost Avenue. Their commitment to rebuilding our neighborhoods became real at this event and we are very grateful fo Octarium's efforts to help rebuild the health of KC neighborhoods through the arts. The Friends of St. Mark Lutheran Church are now looking forward to an annual Lessons and Carols and the continued celebration of fine music on Troost Avenue.
The first time I heard Octarium, I was driving down the turnpike at 70 mph and their Thompson's "Alleluia" came on the radio. I was so struck with the sound that I almost had to pull over and stop. The melody, the dynamics, the balance, and just the sheer size and quality of the sound literally brought tears of joy to my eyes. I could not believe I was listening to only eight voices! Now I have all the albums and attend concerts any time they are within 100 miles of me.
Octarium has taken their craft to a very high level. Each year this ensemble has sung together clearly shows in their performances. Their ability to anticipate each other's cues is virtually unmatched in the choral ensemble world. To perform with such precision and passion without a conductor shows just how talented and dedicated each member is. The result: music that will take you far, far away from whatever room you are in when you hear it.
I had the incredible good fortune to be part of a fundraiser at which Octarium performed. Not only was their performance perfectly suited for the venue, and the charity, in was positively divine. Octarium should be counted as a local, national and global musical gem and I consider it a great privilege to walk among their fans.
To hear Octarium sing is like being in heaven. I have been lucky enough to hear them sing several times now, and I usually have to drive several hours to do it. It is worth it every time. From sacred choral music to traditional choral music to experimental forms and new composers, they are up to the challenge. It is my good fortune to have them in my musical life.
This season Octarium warmed up the sanctuary of St. Marks with lush tones and spot-on harmony. The occasion was a benefit concert to raise money for the city neighborhood church that could not pay its heating bills.
This musical organization is an absolute GEM that a friend and I had the good luck to stumble upon when looking for quality entertainment. What good fortune to have found them!
Octarium provides all residents of Kansas City and those of us who enjoy their recordings with a wonderful, imaginative and uplifting experience. Their musicality is extrarodinary and the blend of voices is ethereal. Clearly they have a commitment to the highest standards of performance.
Octarium is a very focused music organization. Its mission is to preserve the great a cappella music from the past as well as the present. It serves the Kansas City area well in this mission, and it's starting to collaborate with other civic organizations to serve not only in the arts, but also historic preservation (among others).
Octarium was kind enough to donate their talents to a service of Lessons and Carols at our church, St. Mark Lutheran, in December of 2010. I was fortunate enough to have a seat in the chancel where they were singing, and I was mesmerized. The singers were perfectly pitched and their voices blended spectacularly.
As a lover of choral music I was enchanted when I first heard Octarium several years ago; the beautiful meld of voices, the balance of the singers, the ravishing harmonies. This is a group of very talented singers, brilliantly trained to sing together as a perfect ensemble. There is no more beatiful instrument than the human voice (when trained and used correctly), and here are eight such instruments working together with remarkable effect.
I have barely missed a concert since, and just wish that more others could experience the sound of this wonderful group.
I am not a terribly verbose person and I'm a good writer, either. I wish I could express how exquisite Octarium's music is - the beauty of the music, the phrasing, the synchronicity of the singers - 8 voices as one But these words are like saying that the Grand Canyon is big or amazing or beautiful. Words cannot do Octarium and their music justice. We are incredibly lucky that they exist, that Krista Blackwood, despite all odds and absolutely no funding, is able to keep this chorale group together. They sang for a fundraiser for a church in my neighborhood in freezing cold (the sanctuary was 42 degrees) and the music brought tears to my eyes. Do yourself a favor: Check out their website and buy a CD and transport yourself to heaven.